It is early in the morning. You just got out of bed, and you are still half asleep, but it seems like your shower drain suddenly stinks. By the time you get home from work, your suspicions are confirmed. Now the whole bathroom reeks. What is causing the stink and what can you do about it?
Foul odors emanating from drains are common. Any drain in your house can stink. It can be the shower or tub, the kitchen sink, one of the bathroom vanities, or even the utility sink in the basement. The good news is that most causes of foul odors in plumbing require only minor fixes.
Beehive Plumbing, offering plumbing services in Salt Lake City and the many towns in surrounding counties, suggests a number of possible causes:
Minor or Major Clogs
Shower drain clogs come in the minor and major categories. Both types can lead to a stinky situation. Consider the fact that shower drain clogs are almost always the result of a combination of hair, soap scum, dirt, and grime. All this organic material can build up and decay in your drainpipe.
Clogs occurring past the trap are not likely to send foul odors back into the shower. The trap prevents that. So if you smell something unpleasant and it is because of a clog, the chances are that whatever is stuck in your pipes is pretty close to the surface. Removing it with either a plunger or a plumber’s snake should be easy enough.
A Dry Trap
The previously mentioned trap is either a P or U-shaped pipe designed to hold a little bit of water so that sewer gases cannot back up into your home. If it dries out, all bets are off. You could potentially smell everything flowing through the sewer running in your neighborhood.
Traps dry out when the plumbing isn’t used for a while. They can also dry out because of clogs or malfunctioning ventilation. If you do not know how to figure it out, a plumber can help.
Mold and Bacteria
Mold and bacteria can both grow in your shower drain and pipes if the system is improperly ventilated. Even properly ventilated systems can develop problems if something is inhibiting airflow.
Bacterial growth usually produces a rotten or musty odor. The odor is the result of bacteria feeding on organic material. Mold also produces a musty smell that isn’t quite as pungent. Regardless, both mold and bacteria are bad for your health. If you suspect you are having problems with either, address them yourself or call a plumber.
Drainpipe Leakage
Finally, a stinky shower drain can be the result of drainpipe leakage. This is a situation in which water is leaking out of the system as it exits your house. Being near the drainpipe, the water is seeping into the floor joists or subfloor below is providing a moist and cool environment that is prime real estate for mold and bacteria.
Also be aware that leaky drain pipes in any of your bathroom fixtures could not cause odors. So even if a stinky smell seems to be coming from your shower, it might be coming from somewhere else. You need to explore all the possibilities.
A stinky shower drain is no fun. On the positive side, most causes represent easy fixes. It’s really just a matter of identifying the source of the odors and then responding accordingly. Whether it is a clog, a dry trap, a leak, or the presence of bacteria or mold, all are pretty easy to rectify.
